Time and Again

Chapter 1: The Future Is At Hand

10 Years from the Present

"Jack? Are you sure this will work?" I asked while looking at the contraption.

"Of coarse it will work! It worked last time, didn't it? Jack said mindlessly while fumbling with the machinery.

"But last time it only worked one way. Omi had to freeze himself for one thousand and five hundred years to get back!" I pointed out to him.

As I said it he closed the time machine paneling, placed his goggles on the top of his head and turned around to face me.

"Is that all you're worried about, Kimiko?" questioned Jack while walking towards me.

"Isn't that enough to be worried about?" I couldn't believe he was acting so serene about this. I, for one, was terrified and not even my calm, outer façade could hide it.

"Well, I'm worried about that too, but I'm also worried about other things. I mean what if we fail, what if we're captured, what if Chase Young will conquer the entire world…" listed Jack, "and what if I never see you again?"

At this last comment I turned to him. His features were composed, but there was sorrow in his eyes. He was worried as well, but showed no fear. Was this the same Jack I had fought so many years ago? Was it the exact same Jack that had been a pathetic warrior, had failed at collecting Shen-Gong-Wu, and had squealed at the smallest sign of a fight?

My eyes started to move to his other features. On his chin, there was hair of which he was trying to grow a goatee from. To the sides of his face, there were side burns peaking out from under his goggle strap. The ever red hair still delighted in its spikiness, but a few hairs had grown long in the front. He wore a simple red shirt and a small quantity of eyeliner. His appearance still looked like evil genius apparel, but he had grown far more mature than the "evil boy genius" he use to be.

All this including his still impractical mind proved that it was the same Jack. He was just stronger, older and more mature. It wasn't just the years that had done this to him, but the war against Chase Young. This was the same war against Chase that was causing me to make a drastic trip through time. The war had caused Jack to change from the Haylin side to my side, the side of good. Now he too was a dragon and a part of the temple. What was left of the temple...

"You'll see me again. I know your machine will work!" I said while abolishing whatever doubts I had before.

"Even if it works only one way, you'll have help from the past me to return you here," he said after turning back to the machine.

He turned it on and started typing the calculations of where I would be sent to. The opening of the portal began to glow and make swirls that matched the goggles on his head. The machine had been adjusted and had enough power to work without The Eye of Dashi. If it didn't work we couldn't rely on any Shen-Gong-Wu to fix it because none were in our possession. All of them were taken by Chase Young so we were left with only our elemental powers, Wudai weapons and some Chinese artillery.

"My fist daggers, Tie-Sheet blade and Wudai weapon will be all I'll by taking with me. I'd only be slowing myself down if I took more,"

"Wise choice, but try to keep the fighting to a minimal. I know your temper and how much you like to fight," Jack said while grinning.

He knew me well because my infamous hotheadedness had been the cause for many of the temple's losses. Before, it wasn't a problem because defeating Wuya or Jack in the past was easy enough. Fighting Chase though is a very different situation. One simple weakness could easily spell your demise. That's why I have learned to meditate and calm myself. My inner fire element cannot be contained for long though.

Even if his advice was wise, I still pretended to be angry at his statement. I stomped towards the time machine portal. My weapons were already tied to my sash so I was ready to leave. All I needed was for Jack to finish his adjustments to the time setting. Soon I would be traveling through time and space to the past.

"Hey, I'm sorry about the fighting comment," he said apologetically while laying his hand on my shoulder.

"No worries. I was only pretending," I replied.

"Well, didn't fool me! I knew it all along," Jack said sarcastically.

A split second after that I was hugging him roughly. My face was buried in his shirt so to hide the tears. The surprised Jack looked down towards me and returned my embrace. I lifted my face to say something, but nothing came out.

"I'll miss you too," he said after reading me like a book, "Don't worry. You'll be back in no time and if not… I'll have the bathroom all to myself!"

I couldn't help to laugh at his poor humor. He just had to make a bad joke at a time like this. We could be moments away from certain doom and he would still be optimistic. It had done the trick though. The tears had stopped and my outlook was slightly less sad.

"Thanks," I whispered before kissing him softly in our tight embrace.

"You better go now," he said after we finished, "If you don't, I'll probably ask for more."

"I see… I'd better be off than," I mused to him.

I positioned myself in front of the time portal. While standing there, I could feel a force trying to pull myself into the vortex. I wasn't fearful anymore though. If Omi could do it then I could do it as well. I just needed to think about what purposes I was doing this all for.

My reasons were to end this war. For the purpose to free Omi, Raimundo, Clay, Dojo, and Master Fung from Chase Young's clutches. To make sure there would be a future for the forces of good and for Jack and I to-

"Kimiko?" called Jack interrupting my thoughts.

"Yes?"

"How 'bout one for the road?" he said winking.

He obviously meant another kiss.

"I think you had enou-"

I was interrupted again except not by Jack, but by a loud crash which came from above us. Something must have broken the ceiling because rock and debris was raining down. It wasn't really a ceiling, but the top of a cave on the side of a mountain. Jack and I had been living here, in this fortress, which hid a temple. We had been in hiding ever since the others were captured in battle.

"Kimiko! It's Wuya!" shouted Jack over the noise of the falling debris.

"Wuya?"

I knew Chase put Wuya in charge of destroying the temple. I had seen her do it… It would make sense that she would be put to the test to find the remaining dragons. Still, it came at a shock when I heard her name and saw her shadow in the settling smoke and gravel.

Her shadow was in her human form, her most powerful form. She had made an entry by blowing through the mountainside. The details of her body were still hidden. What I could see was her vibrant red hair and piercing green eyes. She started walking in the direction where we were standing. You could tell by her stride that she was enjoying her triumph in finding us.

"Won't Master Young be delighted," spoke the frightening yet exquisite voice.

She sauntered like a predator towards me, her prey.

"That I've found you at last."